Local Man Seeks Lost Wheelchair with Personal Belongings on I-49 Near Lafayette, LA

A local man is hoping to recover his lost wheelchair after it fell off a truck somewhere between Lafayette and Carencro on Sunday night. Thaddeus, who relies on the wheelchair for mobility, lost not only the chair but also a bag containing his wallet and other personal belongings. Now, the community is stepping in to lend a hand.

Elton Sam took to Facebook to ask for help, writing, “Thaddeus’ wheelchair fell off of the truck last night. Between Lafayette and Carencro. Need help finding. Cowboy Preacher.” The post quickly gained traction, with people offering support and searching for any sign of the missing wheelchair.

Several folks thought they might have seen the wheelchair. Larriona Boudreaux Stiner shared, “I seen this wheelchair this morning on my way to Sunset. I’ll be leaving in a few. I’ll be on the lookout to see if it’s still there.” But so far, no luck in tracking it down.

The response from the community has been heartwarming. Many have offered to donate their extra wheelchairs or even chip in for a new one. Kyla Nicole Johnson posted, “We have one at my grandparents’ free of charge in Cecilia if someone would want to pick it up.” Jamie Potier suggested setting up a fundraiser: “If not please make a GoFundMe to help replace it. I don't have much but would like to donate towards it if it's not recovered.”

Despite the foggy start to Monday morning, locals are keeping their eyes peeled for any sign of Thaddeus’ missing wheelchair and, more importantly, his wallet. Anyone with information is encouraged to reach out to Elton Sam on Facebook.

This is when Lafayette steps up and is at its best, with people already offering support. As neighbors and strangers keep an eye out, it's a reminder that a little bit of help and a lot of heart can go a long way.